Three years ago in Stone City, Gao Lan had acted with incredible speed, erecting a barrier ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) to seal off the sky-and-earth anomaly the instant it appeared—and by sheer luck managed to spirit Ye Yu out of danger.
Yet the rumor that the “Demon Child of Heaven’s Decree” had arrived spread far and wide. Every demon who had witnessed the cosmic disturbance was convinced that this boy must be blessed with tremendous fate. Some even proclaimed openly that whoever possessed him would command all Six Realms. Though exaggerated, many believed it without question: what other demon child’s birth could have summoned such a spectacular celestial phenomenon? The title “Heaven-Mandated Demon Child” was, they agreed, well deserved.
But where was this Heaven-Mandated Demon Child now? No one could say for certain. Under the surface, the demon world simmered with intrigue as the lords of every domain hunted for Ye Yu’s whereabouts. No one suspected Gao Lan himself, for on that fateful day he had deliberately altered his appearance and moved too swiftly—apart from Wu Yao, no one even knew he had gone inside. Thus the secret remained safe... for a time.
To protect Ye Yu completely, Gao Lan knew he must conceal him not only from outsiders but even from many within his own clan—Ye Yu’s potential was simply too dazzling. As the boy grew, the heavenly signs around him showed no sign of fading; if anything, they intensified. The scarlet aura of demon qi still whirled about him, and the faint silhouettes of ancient demon spirits flickered into view. In such a state, anyone who looked on would remark instantly: this child truly bore divine destiny.
So Gao Lan hid him on the rear slopes of the clan’s mountain. But how long could one keep a child secluded—hundreds or a thousand years—with no chance even for the most basic travels? Such a tedious regimen would severely test any demon’s spirit.
Fortunately, Gao Lan’s worry was soon dispelled. When Ye Yu reached three and a half years old, all those celestial signs vanished. He looked every bit like an ordinary young demon cub, with no hint of the miracle he had once been. Gao Lan rejoiced. Before Ye Yu matured, it was vital that he remain inconspicuous—after all, Gao Lan was only at Demon Sovereign rank, not Demon Emperor; many in the demon world were stronger than he. To raise Ye Yu safely would require utmost discretion.
But while Gao Lan was relieved, Ye Yu’s parents—Ye Jing and Zhao Baihui—worried. Did the loss of those heavenly signs mean he had forfeited the favor of fate? Would it hinder his future growth? Gao Lan, having never encountered such a situation, could only test the boy’s innate talent.
“Hm,” he muttered as he assessed Ye Yu’s potential. “Still the same—exceptional talent. No problem.”
When Gao Lan gave his assurance, Ye Jing and Zhao Baihui both breathed a sigh of relief. Nearby, Ye Yu curled his lips in a half-smirk. Honestly, he had just discovered that his dream-gifted talent’s special effects could be switched off—and came with an absurdly over-dramatic catchphrase.
“Crouch down to launch higher!”
Reading those words left Ye Yu feeling numb all over—horns included. But of course he could only suspend that dream effect under certain conditions; if he overexerted his demon qi or let his emotions run too high, the spectacle would flare back to life. Ye Yu didn’t fret too much—this dream-talent was meant to be used now and then, not forever locked away. Besides, they had said beforehand that the core purpose of his dream gift was the Path of Enchantment. He would need to build “submission value” in others to grow stronger—and he had been waiting for just such an opportunity.
Strictly speaking, he had earned submission value the moment he was born—898 points, in fact—but had never spent them. Sudden leaps in cultivation would breed suspicion; his growth needed to seem natural.
At age eight, Gao Lan could no longer contain his eagerness. He explained that he wished to take Ye Yu as his disciple. Over the years he had been careful to prepare—sending gifts at festivals, laying the groundwork for a teacher-student bond. To Ye Yu, such schemes seemed unnecessary: he was still weak, his parents held little sway, and Gao Lan alone commanded life-and-death authority over the Ye family. Ye Yu had no real choice but to accept.
“Very well,” he said, and knelt to formally become Gao Lan’s apprentice. Delighted, Gao Lan immediately bestowed numerous cultivation resources—even demon-immortal implements. In earlier days, Ye Yu might have studied such treasures closely, but now, having reached the ranks of the Divine Realm, he had little interest. After all, in reality such artifacts offered him scant benefit.
Twenty years passed in the blink of an eye. One moment, the Nine-Bend Hall lay peaceful; the next, dark clouds amassed, lightning cracked, and a terrifying pressure descended. All the demons looked up in awe as stars tore the night sky and demon qi swirled into a colossal vortex. At its center, on the rear slopes behind the hall, all vanished in an instant. Silence fell—and then a colossal, divine apparition materialized in the heavens, towering over the realm like a god surveying mere ants.
Inside the Nine-Bend Hall, every demon trembled, clueless as to what had occurred. The ordeal was brief, however, and soon ended.
Behind the hall, Gao Lan focused all his power to shroud the event from prying demon lords—lest anyone come to seize Ye Yu. That year, Ye Yu had reached twenty-eight and broken through to the Early Earth Demon Realm. Ancient demonic beasts’ phantoms circled him, and the blood-red demon qi gave off a murderous aura that chilled the soul.
